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Residents press council on Hickory Creek traffic, state-road safety and Johnson Square parking
Summary
Residents urged the council for a traffic study on Hickory Creek Drive, asked officials to raise concerns with TxDOT about a dangerous school-area intersection, and requested use or sale of a vacant lot at Johnson Square for parking; council and staff promised follow-up.
Several residents used the council’s public-comment period on Jan. 13 to ask the city to investigate traffic safety and local parking concerns.
Henry Thornton, a Hickory Creek Drive resident, told the council that the street — once a cul-de-sac — is now nearly two miles long after recent extensions and that the change has brought “a significant increase” in "traffic, street trash, noise, and accidents." Thornton asked the city to conduct a traffic count and speed study to document vehicle volumes and average speeds and to evaluate safety measures, such as crossings. He noted that residential default speed limits in Texas are typically 30 mph and referenced proposed state legislation that he believed would allow municipalities to lower residential limits to 20 mph under certain circumstances.
Mayor Sandfield and staff responded that Hickory Creek is classified as a minor collector, not a strictly residential street, so some traffic-control options are limited. Staff said the city can pull traffic-count data and evaluate options, but cautioned that speed bumps may not be workable because of resident concerns about vehicle damage.
Steven Lord (spelled in a letter read into the record) asked the council to investigate the intersection of St. Lawrence and Louise Ritter Boulevard — a state or county road near two schools where, the letter said, a child had been killed in a past crash. Staff told the council that the roadway is under state/county jurisdiction and advised Lord to take the concern to TxDOT; the city said it will provide contact information and reach out to the appropriate agency.
Separately, Nathan Chandler and small-business owner Diana Phillips (owner, Teachers Who Tutor) asked the council about parking for Johnson Square, a commercial grouping near I-35. Chandler said a narrow city/EDC-owned lot near Overlook Road measures roughly 60 by 150 feet and could provide about 22 parking spaces. He asked whether businesses could purchase, lease or temporarily use the lot for parking. Phillips said limited parking was forcing parents away from her tutoring business and other small businesses and asked the city to help.
City staff clarified that the parcel Chandler referenced is owned by the Red Oak Economic Development Corporation, a separate legal entity from the city, though it falls under the city’s broader economic development structure. Staff suggested the petitioner contact the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and said representatives from the EDC might be able to discuss options such as lease or temporary use; staff also said they would follow up with the speakers.
Ending: Council members pledged to have staff follow up. No formal actions were taken during the public-comment period; topics were referred to staff and, in the case of the state highway intersection, to TxDOT.
